Indicators for the finger doses in interventional radiology

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiological Protection
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Interventional radiologists face potential high radiation doses to their hands.
• Assessing finger dosimetry is crucial for occupational safety in interventional radiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify reliable parameters for assessing interventional radiologists' finger doses.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of external personal dosemeters in predicting hand radiation exposure.

Main Methods:

• Recording finger doses and other relevant factors during interventional procedures.
• Analyzing correlations between finger dose, dose-area product, screening time, and external personal dosemeter readings.

Main Results:

• A good correlation was observed between finger dose and dose-area product across procedures.
• A very significant correlation was found between finger doses and personal dosemeter readings outside the lead apron.
• External personal dosemeters can serve as a screening tool for finger/hand doses.

Conclusions:

• Personal dosemeters worn outside lead aprons are effective screening devices for interventional radiologists' finger doses.
• Radiologists, surgeons, and cardiologists with external doses >20 mSv/year may exceed 50 mSv hand dose.
• Finger dose monitoring is recommended for individuals exceeding these external dose thresholds.